is based upon Victor Herbert's popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland and adapted by Disney songwriter George Bruns specifically for this production. The film’s climax is the rousing “March of the Wooden Soldiers” sequence, in which a miniaturized Tom leads a toy battalion against Barnaby. Ward Kimball (an avid toy collector) has headed the special unit set up for the making of the more than 100 toys created especially for this scene.

1964:

Actor Todd Turquand, a member of the 1977-1978 TV series The New Mickey Mouse Club, is born.

1966:

Lilly Disney visits her husband Walt at St. Joseph's Hospital (across from his studio)

in Burbank, California. Although Walt is very ill, she is encouraged by the strength he shows. His brother

Roy pays him a visit at night and they talk about company matters, EPCOT, and Disney

World. Walt looks at the ceiling and points out the design of the new Florida park to a teary-eyed Roy. After he

leaves, Walt asks to have his bed raised so he can look toward the nearby Disney Studios. At Roy's

orders, every one of the studio's lights is left on to shine through the night.

Actress Verna Felton, who was best known for providing many voices in numerous Disney animated films (as well as voicing Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law Pearl Slaghoople in Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones), passes away at age 76. Her Disney credits include Dumbo (1941) as the Elephant Matriarch and Mrs. Jumbo, Dumbo's Mother, Cinderella (1950) as The Fairy Godmother, Alice in Wonderland (1951) as the Queen of Hearts, Lady and the Tramp (1955) as Aunt Sarah, Sleeping Beauty (1959) as Flora, the Red Fairy & Queen Leah, Princess Aurora's mother, and The Jungle Book (1967) as Winifred the Elephant (her final role).

1977:

Tasha Danner, a member of the Disney Channel's

The All New Mickey Mouse Club, is born in Indiana.

1986:

The Wonderful World of Disney airs "The Christmas Star." An escaped convict

named Horace McNickle (played by Edward Asner) hides out in a suburban neighborhood and is

befriended by two neighborhood children who think he is the real Santa Claus.

1997:

The second official "Toad In" takes place at Walt Disney World's Fantasyland. Supporters of the ill-fated Mr. Toad attraction pass out "Save Mr. Toad" buttons.

High School Musical - is born in Salinas, California. She also appeared in 4

episodes of Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

1989:

The Little Mermaid is released in Peru.

2007:

Disney Family Night at High School Musical takes place at the

Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

1934:

MGM releases their version of Babes in Toyland, featuring Laurel & Hardy. Also known as March of the Wooden Soldiers, a scene features the Three Little Pigs and a costumed child dressed like Mickey Mouse! The Hal Roach Studios has obtained permission from Disney to use the characters.

2008:

Turner Classic Movies airs an all-new original documentary entitled The Age of

Welsh film and television actor Bernard Fox passes away at age 89 in Van Nuys,

California. He supplied the voices for both Chairman and Doctor Mouse for Disney's 1990 animated feature

The Rescuers Down Under, the follow-up to the 1977 The Rescuers for which he also voiced Mr. Chairman.

Fox's live-action Disney credits include Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo and The Million Dollar Duck.

(He was best known for his television roles of Dr. Bombay from Bewitched, and the naive, bumbling Colonel

Crittendon on Hogan's Heroes.)

2017:

The Walt Disney Company announces a definitive agreement to acquire 21st Century

Fox for $52.4 billion in stock. Assets being assumed by the acquisition include the 20th Century Fox film

and TV studios, Fox Television Group (along with cable channels such as FX), international networks, stakes in National Geographic Partners, Indian television broadcaster Star India, additional 30% stake in Hulu, and other key assets.

2009:

Nominees are announced for the 15th Critics' Choice Awards, honoring the finest achievements of 2009 filmmaking. Among the nominations-